UPDATE 2-AT&T's Nokia Windows phones priced to undercut rivals

SAN FRANCISCO Nov 6 (Reuters) - AT&T set a $50
starting price for Nokia's latest Windows
smartphones, which the struggling Finnish phone maker is pinning
its hopes on for a turnaround.

The No. 2 U.S. mobile provider said on Tuesday it will sell
the Nokia Lumia 820 for $49.99 and the flagship Lumia 920 phone
for $99.99 compared with its $199.99 pricing for HTC Corp's
Windows Phone 8X device.

Nokia, which has lost out hugely to Apple Inc and
Samsung Electronics Co in recent years, is hinging
its entire future on Microsoft's mobile software. HTC
mostly sells phones based on Google Inc's Android
software but is hoping to diversify with Windows Phone 8.

The three devices are key for Microsoft which is banking on
its Windows Phone 8 software to challenge Apple's iPhone and
Android phones from vendors like Samsung.

The low Nokia price shows that volumes are more important to
the company than profits as it is hoping to re-build a U.S.
customer base, Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said.

And with such aggressive pricing, the only reason these
phones could fail to sell well is if consumers decide they are
not interested in the Microsoft software, Greengart said.

"It's almost a referendum on Microsoft's operating system,"
said the analyst.

AT&T is also offering a free wireless charging plate with
the purchase of the Lumia 920, which is worth about $80
according to an estimate from Greengart, who used previous
wireless chargers as a benchmark.

"This is a valuable accessory that AT&T and Nokia are
throwing in the box for free," Greengart said. "I would think
this will make it more difficult for HTC because they have a
product with a smaller display and less unique features."

The prices are for customers who sign a two-year wireless
contract with AT&T. The phones, which are available beginning
Nov. 9, can be pre-ordered starting Wednesday.

The biggest U.S. mobile service provider Verizon Wireless -
a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group
Plc - said last week that it would sell another Nokia
model the Lumia 822 for $99.99, including a $50 rebate.